1 A ll the tax-gatherers and sinners were coming to hear Jesus.

Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

2 T he proud religious law-keepers and the teachers of the Law began to speak against Him. They said, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

3 T hen Jesus told them a picture-story, saying,

And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

4 “ What if one of you had one hundred sheep and you lost one of them? Would you not leave the ninety-nine in the country and go back and look for the one which was lost until you find it?

What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

5 W hen you find it, you are happy as you carry it back on your shoulders.

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 T hen you would go to your house and call your friends and neighbors. You would say to them, ‘Be happy with me because I have found my sheep that was lost.’

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

7 I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven because of one sinner who is sorry for his sins and turns from them, than for ninety-nine people right with God who do not have sins to be sorry for. The Picture-Story of the Lost Piece of Money

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

8 “ What if a woman has ten silver pieces of money and loses one of them? Does she not light a lamp and sweep the floor and look until she finds it?

Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

9 W hen she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together. She says to them, ‘Be happy with me. I have found the piece of money I had lost.’

And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

10 I tell you, it is the same way among the angels of God. If one sinner is sorry for his sins and turns from them, the angels are very happy.” The Picture-Story of the Foolish Son Who Spent All His Money

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

11 A nd Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.

And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12 T he younger son said to his father, ‘Father, let me have the part of the family riches that will be coming to me.’ Then the father divided all that he owned between his two sons.

And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13 S oon after that the younger son took all that had been given to him and went to another country far away. There he spent all he had on wild and foolish living.

And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

14 W hen all his money was spent, he was hungry. There was no food in the land.

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 H e went to work for a man in this far away country. His work was to feed pigs.

And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 H e was so hungry he was ready to eat the outside part of the ears of the corn the pigs ate because no one gave him anything.

And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 “ He began to think about what he had done. He said to himself, ‘My father pays many men who work for him. They have all the food they want and more than enough. I am about dead because I am so hungry.

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will get up and go to my father. I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 I am not good enough to be called your son. But may I be as one of the workmen you pay to work?”’

And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

20 “ The son got up and went to his father. While he was yet a long way off, his father saw him. The father was full of loving-pity for him. He ran and threw his arms around him and kissed him.

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 T he son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am not good enough to be called your son.’

And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22 B ut the father said to the workmen he owned, ‘Hurry! Get the best coat and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet.

But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

23 B ring the calf that is fat and kill it. Let us eat and be glad.

And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

24 F or my son was dead and now he is alive again. He was lost and now he is found. Let us eat and have a good time.’

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

25 “ The older son was out in the field. As he was coming near the house, he heard music and dancing.

Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

26 H e called one of the servants and asked what was happening.

And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

27 T he servant answered, ‘Your brother has come back and your father has killed the fat calf. Your brother is in the house and is well.’

And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

28 T he older brother was angry and would not go into the house. His father went outside and asked him to come in.

And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

29 T he older son said to his father, ‘All these many years I have served you. I have always obeyed what you said. But you never gave me a young goat so I could have a supper and a good time with my friends.

And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

30 B ut as soon as this son of yours came back, you killed the fat calf. And yet he wasted your money with bad women.’

But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

31 “ The father said to him, ‘My son, you are with me all the time. All that I have is yours.

And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

32 I t is right and good that we should have a good time and be glad. Your brother was dead and now he is alive again. He was lost and now he is found.’”

It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.